Alpena Wildcats 2017 Football Preview

City / County: Alpena / Alpena

School Mascot Name: Wildcats
2016 Record: 2-7
Conference/Division: Big North Conference
2017's Expected Division for Playoffs: Division 2
Record last 3 seasons: 9-18
Record last 5 seasons: 11-34
Record last 10 seasons: 21-69

Head Coach: Aaron Sims
Head Coaching Experience: 2 years at Alpena
Assistant Coaching Staff:
Eric Mitchell - QBs - ILBs- DC, Lenny Avery - RBs - DL, Mike Howard - JV/Frosh, Mike Buchinger - JV/Frosh, Jamie Bullis - JV/Frosh, Lee Burns - JV/Frosh, Josh Binkley - JV/Frosh
Captains: TBD
Returning Starters on Offense: 6
Returning Starters on Defense: 5
Returning Key Players:
Alex Arch - HB/FS - 6-0/190 - 2018
Logan Guthrie - HB/ILB - 6-1/210 - 2019
Lars MacArthur - QB/DB - 6-0/186 - 2018
Ian Smith - OL/DL - 6-2/296 - 2018
Zac Cramer - OL/DL - 6-3/320 - 2019
Zach Auger - OL/DL - 5-11/285 - 2018
Lee Babcock - OL/DL - 5-11/315 - 2018
Upcoming Players:
Haydn Goebel - SE/TE/FS - 6-3/190 - 2019
Zak Suszek - FB/ILB - 5-9/185 - 2019
Team Strength(s) for 2017:
This is the 1st year that any of the kids have had the same staff, with the same scheme for 2 years in a row. We had a huge commitment to improving our strength in the off-season, and our returning starters could all be very good players.
Biggest Shoes / Holes to Fill in 2017:
Our biggest hole is changing the mindset and culture. We have to learn how to compete and win every single play.
2017 Season Outlook:
We have to work hard and compete every week.
Outlook on Conference/Division:
Every single game on our schedule is important. Our conference is very competitive, if we take plays off we will pay for it. We have to compete every single play.

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